Acts 20 - Romans 16

New King James Version

Journeys in Greece

20 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and ^(A)departed to go to Macedonia. ² Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to ^(B)Greece ³ and stayed three months. And ^(C)when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. ⁴ And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also ^(D)Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and ^(E)Gaius of Derbe, and ^(F)Timothy, and ^(G)Tychicus and ^(H)Trophimus of Asia. ⁵ These men, going ahead, waited for us at ^(I)Troas. ⁶ But we sailed away from Philippi after ^(J)the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them ^(K)at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Ministering at Troas

⁷ Now on ^(L)the first day of the week, when the disciples came together ^(M)to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps ^(N)in the upper room where ^[a]they were gathered together. ⁹ And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. ¹⁰ But Paul went down, ^(O)fell on him, and embracing him said, ^(P)“Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” ¹¹ Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. ¹² And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.

From Troas to Miletus

¹³ Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had ^[b]given orders, intending himself to go on foot. ¹⁴ And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. ¹⁵ We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. ¹⁶ For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for ^(Q)he was hurrying ^(R)to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on ^(S)the Day of Pentecost.

The Ephesian Elders Exhorted

¹⁷ From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. ¹⁸ And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, ^(T)from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me ^(U)by the plotting of the Jews; ²⁰ how ^(V)I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, ^21 (W)testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, ^(X)repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. ²² And see, now ^(Y)I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, ²³ except that ^(Z)the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. ^24 [c]But ^(AA)none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, ^(AB)so that I may finish my ^[d]race with joy, ^(AC)and the ministry ^(AD)which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵ “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. ²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am ^(AE)innocent^[e] of the blood of all men. ²⁷ For I have not ^[f]shunned to declare to you ^(AF)the whole counsel of God. ^28 (AG)Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit ^(AH)has made you overseers, to shepherd the church ^[g]of God ^(AI)which He purchased ^(AJ)with His own blood. ²⁹ For I know this, that after my departure ^(AK)savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Also ^(AL)from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking ^[h]perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. ³¹ Therefore watch, and remember that ^(AM)for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

³² “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and ^(AN)to the word of His grace, which is able ^(AO)to build you up and give you ^(AP)an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³ I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ^34 [i]Yes, you yourselves know ^(AQ)that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. ³⁵ I have shown you in every way, ^(AR)by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁶ And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷ Then they all ^(AS)wept ^[j]freely, and ^(AT)fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, ³⁸ sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Warnings on the Journey to Jerusalem

21 Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ² And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. ³ When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. ⁴ And finding ^[k]disciples, we stayed there seven days. ^(AU)They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. ⁵ When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And ^(AV)we knelt down on the shore and prayed. ⁶ When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned ^(AW)home.

⁷ And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. ⁸ On the next day we ^[l]who were Paul’s companions departed and came to ^(AX)Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip ^(AY)the evangelist, ^(AZ)who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. ⁹ Now this man had four virgin daughters ^(BA)who prophesied. ¹⁰ And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named ^(BB)Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ^(BC)‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”

¹² Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, ^(BD)“What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

¹⁴ So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, ^(BE)“The will of the Lord be done.”

Paul Urged to Make Peace

¹⁵ And after those days we ^[m]packed and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge.

^17 (BF)And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. ¹⁸ On the following day Paul went in with us to ^(BG)James, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ When he had greeted them, ^(BH)he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles ^(BI)through his ministry. ²⁰ And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all ^(BJ)zealous for the law; ²¹ but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. ^22 [n]What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. ²³ Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. ²⁴ Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may ^(BK)shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. ²⁵ But concerning the Gentiles who believe, ^(BL)we have written and decided ^[o]that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from ^[p]sexual immorality.”

Arrested in the Temple

²⁶ Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, ^(BM)entered the temple ^(BN)to announce the ^[q]expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.

²⁷ Now when the seven days were almost ended, ^(BO)the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and ^(BP)laid hands on him, ²⁸ crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man ^(BQ)who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” ²⁹ (For they had ^[r]previously seen ^(BR)Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

³⁰ And ^(BS)all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. ³¹ Now as they were ^(BT)seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the ^[s]garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. ^32 (BU)He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. ³³ Then the ^(BV)commander came near and took him, and ^(BW)commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another.

So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. ³⁵ When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. ³⁶ For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, ^(BX)“Away with him!”

Addressing the Jerusalem Mob^(BY)

³⁷ Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?”

He replied, “Can you speak Greek? ^38 (BZ)Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”

³⁹ But Paul said, ^(CA)“I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no ^[t]mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”

⁴⁰ So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and ^(CB)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the ^(CC)Hebrew language, saying,

Paul’s Defense at Jerusalem

22 “Brethren^(CD) and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” ² And when they heard that he spoke to them in the ^(CE)Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.

Then he said: ^3 (CF)“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city ^(CG)at the feet of ^(CH)Gamaliel, taught ^(CI)according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and ^(CJ)was zealous toward God ^(CK)as you all are today. ^4 (CL)I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, ⁵ as also the high priest bears me witness, and ^(CM)all the council of the elders, ^(CN)from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus ^(CO)to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

⁶ “Now ^(CP)it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. ⁷ And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ ⁸ So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

⁹ “And ^(CQ)those who were with me indeed saw the light ^[u]and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. ¹⁰ So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ ¹¹ And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

¹² “Then ^(CR)a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, ^(CS)having a good testimony with all the ^(CT)Jews who dwelt there, ¹³ came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. ¹⁴ Then he said, ^(CU)‘The God of our fathers ^(CV)has chosen you that you should ^(CW)know His will, and ^(CX)see the Just One, ^(CY)and hear the voice of His mouth. ^15 (CZ)For you will be His witness to all men of ^(DA)what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, ^(DB)and wash away your sins, ^(DC)calling on the name of the Lord.’

¹⁷ “Now ^(DD)it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance ¹⁸ and ^(DE)saw Him saying to me, ^(DF)‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ ¹⁹ So I said, ‘Lord, ^(DG)they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and ^(DH)beat those who believe on You. ^20 (DI)And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by ^(DJ)consenting ^[v]to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ ²¹ Then He said to me, ‘Depart, ^(DK)for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”

Paul’s Roman Citizenship

²² And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, ^(DL)“Away with such a fellow from the earth, for ^(DM)he is not fit to live!” ²³ Then, as they cried out and ^[w]tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, ²⁴ the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him. ²⁵ And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, ^(DN)“Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

²⁶ When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”

²⁷ Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?”

He said, “Yes.”

²⁸ The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.”

And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”

²⁹ Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

The Sanhedrin Divided

³⁰ The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

The Jerusalem Jews Plot to Kill Paul

23 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, ^(DO)I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” ² And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him ^(DP)to strike him on the mouth. ³ Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and ^(DQ)do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

⁴ And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

⁵ Then Paul said, ^(DR)“I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ^(DS)‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”

⁶ But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, ^(DT)I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; ^(DU)concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

⁷ And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. ^8 (DV)For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. ⁹ Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, ^(DW)“We find no evil in this man; ^[x]but ^(DX)if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, ^(DY)let us not fight against God.”

¹⁰ Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

The Plot Against Paul

¹¹ But ^(DZ)the following night the Lord stood by him and said, ^[y]“Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in ^(EA)Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at ^(EB)Rome.”

¹² And when it was day, ^(EC)some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had ^(ED)killed Paul. ¹³ Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. ¹⁴ They came to the chief priests and ^(EE)elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you ^[z]tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

¹⁶ So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. ¹⁷ Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” ¹⁸ So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”

¹⁹ Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

²⁰ And he said, ^(EF)“The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. ²¹ But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

²² So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

Sent to Felix

²³ And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to ^(EG)Caesarea at the third hour of the night; ²⁴ and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” ²⁵ He wrote a letter in the following manner:

³¹ Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. ³² The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. ³³ When they came to ^(EN)Caesarea and had delivered the ^(EO)letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. ³⁴ And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from ^(EP)Cilicia, ³⁵ he said, ^(EQ)“I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in ^(ER)Herod’s ^[ab]Praetorium.

Accused of Sedition

24 Now after ^(ES)five days ^(ET)Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.

² And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and ^[ac]prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, ³ we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. ⁴ Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your ^[ad]courtesy, a few words from us. ^5 (EU)For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ^6 (EV)He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, ^[ae]and wanted ^(EW)to judge him according to our law. ^7 (EX)But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, ^8 (EY)commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” ⁹ And the Jews also ^[af]assented, maintaining that these things were so.

The Defense Before Felix

¹⁰ Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, ¹¹ because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem ^(EZ)to worship. ^12 (FA)And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. ¹³ Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. ¹⁴ But this I confess to you, that according to ^(FB)the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the ^(FC)God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in ^(FD)the Law and in the Prophets. ^15 (FE)I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, ^(FF)that there will be a resurrection ^[ag]of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. ^16 (FG)This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

¹⁷ “Now after many years ^(FH)I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, ^18 (FI)in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me ^(FJ)purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. ^19 (FK)They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. ²⁰ Or else let those who are here themselves say ^[ah]if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, ²¹ unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ^(FL)‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”

Felix Procrastinates

²² But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the ^(FM)Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When ^(FN)Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” ²³ So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and ^(FO)told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.

²⁴ And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the ^(FP)faith in Christ. ²⁵ Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” ²⁶ Meanwhile he also hoped that ^(FQ)money would be given him by Paul, ^[ai]that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.

²⁷ But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, ^(FR)wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

Paul Appeals to Caesar

25 Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from ^(FS)Caesarea to Jerusalem. ^2 (FT)Then the ^[aj]high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, ³ asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—^(FU)while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. ⁴ But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. ⁵ “Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see ^(FV)if there is any fault in him.”

⁶ And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. ⁷ When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about ^(FW)and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, ⁸ while he answered for himself, ^(FX)“Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”

⁹ But Festus, ^(FY)wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, ^(FZ)“Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

¹⁰ So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. ^11 (GA)For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. ^(GB)I appeal to Caesar.”

¹² Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

Paul Before Agrippa

¹³ And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. ¹⁴ When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: ^(GC)“There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, ^15 (GD)about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him. ^16 (GE)To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man ^[ak]to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’ ¹⁷ Therefore when they had come together, ^(GF)without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in. ¹⁸ When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I ^[al]supposed, ^19 (GG)but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. ²⁰ And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. ²¹ But when Paul ^(GH)appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.”

²² Then ^(GI)Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.”

“Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

²³ So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great ^[am]pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command ^(GJ)Paul was brought in. ²⁴ And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom ^(GK)the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was ^(GL)not fit to live any longer. ²⁵ But when I found that ^(GM)he had committed nothing deserving of death, ^(GN)and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. ²⁶ I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. ²⁷ For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”

Paul’s Early Life

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”

So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: ² “I think myself ^(GO)happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer ^(GP)for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am ^(GQ)accused by the Jews, ³ especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

⁴ “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. ⁵ They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to ^(GR)the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. ^6 (GS)And now I stand and am judged for the hope of ^(GT)the promise made by God to our fathers. ⁷ To this promise ^(GU)our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God ^(GV)night and day, ^(GW)hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. ⁸ Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

^9 (GX)“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things ^[an]contrary to the name of ^(GY)Jesus of Nazareth. ^10 (GZ)This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority ^(HA)from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ^11 (HB)And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul Recounts His Conversion^(HC)

^12 (HD)“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, ¹³ at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. ¹⁴ And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ¹⁵ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, ^(HE)to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. ¹⁷ I will ^[ao]deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, ^(HF)to whom I ^[ap]now send you, ^18 (HG)to open their eyes, in order ^(HH)to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, ^(HI)that they may receive forgiveness of sins and ^(HJ)an inheritance among those who are ^(HK)sanctified^[aq] by faith in Me.’

Paul’s Post-Conversion Life

¹⁹ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but ^(HL)declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do ^(HM)works befitting repentance. ²¹ For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. ²² Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those ^(HN)which the prophets and ^(HO)Moses said would come— ^23 (HP)that the Christ would suffer, ^(HQ)that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and ^(HR)would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Agrippa Parries Paul’s Challenge

²⁴ Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, ^(HS)you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

²⁵ But he said, “I am not ^[ar]mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. ²⁶ For the king, before whom I also speak freely, ^(HT)knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

²⁹ And Paul said, ^(HU)“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

³⁰ When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; ³¹ and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, ^(HV)“This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

³² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set ^(HW)free ^(HX)if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

The Voyage to Rome Begins

27 And when ^(HY)it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. ² So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. ^(HZ)Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. ³ And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius ^(IA)treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. ⁴ When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. ⁵ And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. ⁶ There the centurion found ^(IB)an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.

⁷ When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of ^(IC)Crete off Salmone. ⁸ Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

Paul’s Warning Ignored

⁹ Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous ^(ID)because ^[as]the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, ¹⁰ saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” ¹¹ Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. ¹² And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.

In the Tempest

¹³ When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. ¹⁴ But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called ^[at]Euroclydon. ¹⁵ So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her ^[au]drive. ¹⁶ And running under the shelter of an island called ^[av]Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. ¹⁷ When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the ^[aw]Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. ¹⁸ And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. ¹⁹ On the third day ^(IE)we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. ²⁰ Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

²¹ But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. ²² And now I urge you to take ^[ax]heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. ^23 (IF)For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and ^(IG)whom I serve, ²⁴ saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ ²⁵ Therefore take heart, men, ^(IH)for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. ²⁶ However, ^(II)we must run aground on a certain island.”

²⁷ Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. ²⁸ And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. ²⁹ Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and ^[ay]prayed for day to come. ³⁰ And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, ³¹ Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” ³² Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.

³³ And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. ³⁴ Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, ^(IJ)since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” ³⁵ And when he had said these things, he took bread and ^(IK)gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. ³⁶ Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. ³⁷ And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six ^(IL)persons on the ship. ³⁸ So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.

Shipwrecked on Malta

³⁹ When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. ⁴⁰ And they ^[az]let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. ⁴¹ But striking ^[ba]a place where two seas met, ^(IM)they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

⁴² And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. ⁴³ But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, ⁴⁴ and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was ^(IN)that they all escaped safely to land.

Paul’s Ministry on Malta

28 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that ^(IO)the island was called Malta. ² And the ^(IP)natives^[bb] showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. ³ But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. ⁴ So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” ⁵ But he shook off the creature into the fire and ^(IQ)suffered no harm. ⁶ However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and ^(IR)said that he was a god.

⁷ In that region there was an estate of the ^[bc]leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. ⁸ And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and ^(IS)prayed, and ^(IT)he laid his hands on him and healed him. ⁹ So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. ¹⁰ They also honored us in many ^(IU)ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were ^(IV)necessary.

Arrival at Rome

¹¹ After three months we sailed in ^(IW)an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the ^[bd]Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. ¹² And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. ¹³ From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, ¹⁴ where we found ^(IX)brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. ¹⁵ And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

¹⁶ Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but ^(IY)Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

Paul’s Ministry at Rome

¹⁷ And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, ^(IZ)though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet ^(JA)I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, ¹⁸ who, ^(JB)when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. ¹⁹ But when the ^[be]Jews spoke against it, ^(JC)I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. ²⁰ For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because ^(JD)for the hope of Israel I am bound with ^(JE)this chain.”

²¹ Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. ²² But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that ^(JF)it is spoken against everywhere.”

²³ So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, ^(JG)to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus ^(JH)from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. ²⁴ And ^(JI)some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. ²⁵ So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to ^[bf]our fathers, ²⁶ saying,

²⁸ “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent ^(JK)to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” ^29 [bg]And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.

³⁰ Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, ^31 (JL)preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Greeting

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, ^(JM)called to be an apostle, ^(JN)separated to the gospel of God ^2 (JO)which He promised before ^(JP)through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, ³ concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who ^[bh]was ^(JQ)born of the seed of David according to the flesh, ⁴ and ^(JR)declared to be the Son of God with power according ^(JS)to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. ⁵ Through Him ^(JT)we have received grace and apostleship for ^(JU)obedience to the faith among all nations ^(JV)for His name, ⁶ among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

⁷ To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, ^(JW)called to be saints:

^(JX)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Desire to Visit Rome

⁸ First, ^(JY)I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that ^(JZ)your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. ⁹ For ^(KA)God is my witness, ^(KB)whom I serve ^[bi]with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that ^(KC)without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, ¹⁰ making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. ¹¹ For I long to see you, that ^(KD)I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— ¹² that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by ^(KE)the mutual faith both of you and me.

¹³ Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but ^(KF)was hindered until now), that I might have some ^(KG)fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. ¹⁴ I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. ¹⁵ So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

The Just Live by Faith

¹⁶ For ^(KH)I am not ashamed of the gospel ^[bj]of Christ, for ^(KI)it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, ^(KJ)for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹⁷ For ^(KK)in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ^(KL)“The just shall live by faith.”

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

^18 (KM)For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and ^(KN)unrighteousness of men, who ^[bk]suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because ^(KO)what may be known of God is ^[bl]manifest ^[bm]in them, for ^(KP)God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world ^(KQ)His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and ^[bn]Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but ^(KR)became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ^22 (KS)Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the ^(KT)incorruptible ^(KU)God into an image made like ^[bo]corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

^24 (KV)Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, ^(KW)to dishonor their bodies ^(KX)among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged ^(KY)the truth of God ^(KZ)for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to ^(LA)vile passions. For even their ^[bp]women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷ Likewise also the ^[bq]men, leaving the natural use of the ^[br]woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things ^(LB)which are not fitting; ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, ^[bs]sexual immorality, wickedness, ^[bt]covetousness, ^[bu]maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ^31 [bv]undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, ^[bw]unforgiving, unmerciful; ³² who, ^(LC)knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things ^(LD)are deserving of death, not only do the same but also ^(LE)approve of those who practice them.

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 Therefore you are ^(LF)inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, ^(LG)for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. ² But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. ³ And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you despise ^(LH)the riches of His goodness, ^(LI)forbearance, and ^(LJ)longsuffering, ^(LK)not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ⁵ But in accordance with your hardness and your ^[bx]impenitent heart ^(LL)you are ^[by]treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶ who ^(LM)“will render to each one according to his deeds”: ⁷ eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; ⁸ but to those who are self-seeking and ^(LN)do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, ⁹ tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew ^(LO)first and also of the ^[bz]Greek; ^10 (LP)but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹¹ For ^(LQ)there is no partiality with God.

¹² For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law ¹³ (for ^(LR)not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; ¹⁴ for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵ who show the ^(LS)work of the law written in their hearts, their ^(LT)conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) ^16 (LU)in the day when God will judge the secrets of men ^(LV)by Jesus Christ, ^(LW)according to my gospel.

The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles

^17 [ca]Indeed ^(LX)you are called a Jew, and ^(LY)rest^[cb] on the law, ^(LZ)and make your boast in God, ¹⁸ and ^(MA)know His will, and ^(MB)approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, ¹⁹ and ^(MC)are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, ^(MD)having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. ^21 (ME)You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? ²² You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, ^(MF)do you rob temples? ²³ You who ^(MG)make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? ²⁴ For ^(MH)“the name of God is ^(MI)blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.

Circumcision of No Avail

^25 (MJ)For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ²⁶ Therefore, ^(MK)if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? ²⁷ And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, ^(ML)judge you who, even with your ^[cc]written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? ²⁸ For ^(MM)he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; ²⁹ but he is a Jew ^(MN)who is one inwardly; and ^(MO)circumcision is that of the heart, ^(MP)in the Spirit, not in the letter; ^(MQ)whose ^[cd]praise is not from men but from God.

God’s Judgment Defended

3 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? ² Much in every way! Chiefly because ^(MR)to them were committed the ^[ce]oracles of God. ³ For what if ^(MS)some did not believe? ^(MT)Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? ^4 (MU)Certainly not! Indeed, let ^(MV)God be ^[cf]true but ^(MW)every man a liar. As it is written:

⁵ But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? ^(MY)(I speak as a man.) ⁶ Certainly not! For then ^(MZ)how will God judge the world?

⁷ For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? ⁸ And why not say, ^(NA)“Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their ^[cg]condemnation is just.

All Have Sinned^(NB)

⁹ What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that ^(NC)they are all under sin.

¹⁰ As it is written:

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever ^(NJ)the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that ^(NK)every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become ^[ci]guilty before God. ²⁰ Therefore ^(NL)by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

God’s Righteousness Through Faith

²¹ But now ^(NM)the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, ^(NN)being witnessed by the Law ^(NO)and the Prophets, ²² even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all ^[cj]and on all who believe. For ^(NP)there is no difference; ²³ for ^(NQ)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ being justified ^[ck]freely ^(NR)by His grace ^(NS)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God set forth ^(NT)as a ^[cl]propitiation ^(NU)by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over ^(NV)the sins that were previously committed, ²⁶ to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Boasting Excluded

^27 (NW)Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸ Therefore we conclude ^(NX)that a man is ^[cm]justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. ²⁹ Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, ³⁰ since ^(NY)there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. ³¹ Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Abraham Justified by Faith^(NZ)

4 What then shall we say that ^(OA)Abraham our ^(OB)father^[cn] has found according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was ^(OC)justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? ^(OD)“Abraham believed God, and it was ^[co]accounted to him for righteousness.” ⁴ Now ^(OE)to him who works, the wages are not counted ^[cp]as grace but as debt.

David Celebrates the Same Truth

⁵ But to him who ^(OF)does not work but believes on Him who justifies ^(OG)the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, ⁶ just as David also ^(OH)describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

Abraham Justified Before Circumcision

⁹ Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. ¹⁰ How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. ¹¹ And ^(OJ)he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that ^(OK)he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, ¹² and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father ^(OL)Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

The Promise Granted Through Faith

¹³ For the promise that he would be the ^(OM)heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For ^(ON)if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, ¹⁵ because ^(OO)the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith that it might be ^(OP)according to grace, ^(OQ)so that the promise might be ^[cq]sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, ^(OR)who is the father of us all ¹⁷ (as it is written, ^(OS)“I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, ^(OT)who gives life to the dead and calls those ^(OU)things which do not exist as though they did; ¹⁸ who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ^(OV)“So shall your descendants be.” ¹⁹ And not being weak in faith, ^(OW)he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), ^(OX)and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised ^(OY)He was also able to perform. ²² And therefore ^(OZ)“it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

²³ Now ^(PA)it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, ²⁴ but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe ^(PB)in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, ^25 (PC)who was delivered up because of our offenses, and ^(PD)was raised because of our justification.

Faith Triumphs in Trouble

5 Therefore, ^(PE)having been justified by faith, ^[cr]we have ^(PF)peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^2 (PG)through whom also we have access by faith into this grace ^(PH)in which we stand, and ^(PI)rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but ^(PJ)we also glory in tribulations, ^(PK)knowing that tribulation produces ^[cs]perseverance; ^4 (PL)and perseverance, ^[ct]character; and character, hope. ^5 (PM)Now hope does not disappoint, ^(PN)because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Christ in Our Place

⁶ For when we were still without strength, ^[cu]in due time ^(PO)Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But ^(PP)God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified ^(PQ)by His blood, we shall be saved ^(PR)from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For ^(PS)if when we were enemies ^(PT)we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved ^(PU)by His life. ¹¹ And not only that, but we also ^(PV)rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ^(PW)

¹² Therefore, just as ^(PX)through one man sin entered the world, and ^(PY)death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— ¹³ (For until the law sin was in the world, but ^(PZ)sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, ^(QA)who is a type of Him who was to come. ¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the ^[cv]offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded ^(QB)to many. ¹⁶ And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many ^[cw]offenses resulted in justification. ¹⁷ For if by the one man’s ^[cx]offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

¹⁸ Therefore, as through ^[cy]one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through ^(QC)one^[cz] Man’s righteous act the free gift came ^(QD)to all men, resulting in justification of life. ¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by ^(QE)one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

²⁰ Moreover ^(QF)the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace ^(QG)abounded much more, ²¹ so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? ^(QH)Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who ^(QI)died to sin live any longer in it? ³ Or do you not know that ^(QJ)as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus ^(QK)were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were ^(QL)buried with Him through baptism into death, that ^(QM)just as Christ was raised from the dead by ^(QN)the glory of the Father, ^(QO)even so we also should walk in newness of life.

^5 (QP)For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶ knowing this, that ^(QQ)our old man was crucified with Him, that ^(QR)the body of sin might be ^[da]done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. ⁷ For ^(QS)he who has died has been ^[db]freed from sin. ⁸ Now ^(QT)if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, ⁹ knowing that ^(QU)Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. ¹⁰ For the death that He died, ^(QV)He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, ^(QW)He lives to God. ¹¹ Likewise you also, ^[dc]reckon yourselves to be ^(QX)dead indeed to sin, but ^(QY)alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

^12 (QZ)Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. ¹³ And do not present your ^(RA)members as ^[dd]instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but ^(RB)present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. ¹⁴ For ^(RC)sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin ^(RD)because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! ¹⁶ Do you not know that ^(RE)to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? ¹⁷ But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart ^(RF)that form of doctrine to which you were ^[de]delivered. ¹⁸ And ^(RG)having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. ¹⁹ I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness ^[df]for holiness.

²⁰ For when you were ^(RH)slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ^21 (RI)What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For ^(RJ)the end of those things is death. ²² But now ^(RK)having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit ^[dg]to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. ²³ For ^(RL)the wages of sin is death, but ^(RM)the ^[dh]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Freed from the Law

7 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law ^[di]has dominion over a man as long as he lives? ² For ^(RN)the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. ³ So then ^(RO)if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. ⁴ Therefore, my brethren, you also have become ^(RP)dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should ^(RQ)bear fruit to God. ⁵ For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law ^(RR)were at work in our members ^(RS)to bear fruit to death. ⁶ But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve ^(RT)in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Sin’s Advantage in the Law

⁷ What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, ^(RU)I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ^(RV)“You shall not covet.” ⁸ But ^(RW)sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For ^(RX)apart from the law sin was dead. ⁹ I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. ¹⁰ And the commandment, ^(RY)which was to bring life, I found to bring death. ¹¹ For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. ¹² Therefore ^(RZ)the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Law Cannot Save from Sin

¹³ Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, ^(SA)sold under sin. ¹⁵ For what I am doing, I do not understand. ^(SB)For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. ¹⁶ If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. ¹⁷ But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that ^(SC)in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. ¹⁹ For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. ²⁰ Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

²¹ I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. ²² For I ^(SD)delight in the law of God according to ^(SE)the inward man. ²³ But ^(SF)I see another law in ^(SG)my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me ^(SH)from this body of death? ^25 (SI)I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Free from Indwelling Sin

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, ^(SJ)who^[dj] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ² For ^(SK)the law of ^(SL)the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from ^(SM)the law of sin and death. ³ For ^(SN)what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, ^(SO)God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who ^(SP)do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For ^(SQ)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, ^(SR)the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For ^(SS)to be ^[dk]carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because ^(ST)the ^[dl]carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, ^(SU)nor indeed can be. ⁸ So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of ^(SV)Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, ^(SW)He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies ^[dm]through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Sonship Through the Spirit

^12 (SX)Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For ^(SY)if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you ^(SZ)put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For ^(TA)as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For ^(TB)you did not receive the spirit of bondage again ^(TC)to fear, but you received the ^(TD)Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ^(TE)“Abba,^[dn] Father.” ^16 (TF)The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then ^(TG)heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, ^(TH)if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

From Suffering to Glory

¹⁸ For I consider that ^(TI)the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For ^(TJ)the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For ^(TK)the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; ²¹ because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of ^[do]corruption into the glorious ^(TL)liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation ^(TM)groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. ²³ Not only that, but we also who have ^(TN)the firstfruits of the Spirit, ^(TO)even we ourselves groan ^(TP)within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the ^(TQ)redemption of our body. ²⁴ For we were saved in this hope, but ^(TR)hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For ^(TS)we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but ^(TT)the Spirit Himself makes intercession ^[dp]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now ^(TU)He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints ^(TV)according to the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those ^(TW)who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom ^(TX)He foreknew, ^(TY)He also predestined ^(TZ)to be conformed to the image of His Son, ^(UA)that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also ^(UB)called; whom He called, these He also ^(UC)justified; and whom He justified, these He also ^(UD)glorified.

God’s Everlasting Love

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? ^(UE)If God is for us, who can be against us? ^32 (UF)He who did not spare His own Son, but ^(UG)delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? ^(UH)It is God who justifies. ^34 (UI)Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, ^(UJ)who is even at the right hand of God, ^(UK)who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

^37 (UM)Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor ^(UN)principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Israel’s Rejection of Christ

9 I ^(UO)tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, ^2 (UP)that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. ³ For ^(UQ)I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my ^[dq]countrymen according to the flesh, ⁴ who are Israelites, ^(UR)to whom pertain the adoption, ^(US)the glory, ^(UT)the covenants, ^(UU)the giving of the law, ^(UV)the service of God, and ^(UW)the promises; ^5 (UX)of whom are the fathers and from ^(UY)whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, ^(UZ)who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

Israel’s Rejection and God’s Purpose^(VA)

^6 (VB)But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For ^(VC)they are not all Israel who are of Israel, ^7 (VD)nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, ^(VE)“In Isaac your seed shall be called.” ⁸ That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but ^(VF)the children of the promise are counted as the seed. ⁹ For this is the word of promise: ^(VG)“At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”

¹⁰ And not only this, but when ^(VH)Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac ¹¹ (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of ^(VI)Him who calls), ¹² it was said to her, ^(VJ)“The older shall serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written, ^(VK)“Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Israel’s Rejection and God’s Justice

¹⁴ What shall we say then? ^(VL)Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, ^(VM)“I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. ¹⁷ For ^(VN)the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ^(VO)“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” ¹⁸ Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He ^(VP)hardens.

¹⁹ You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For ^(VQ)who has resisted His will?” ²⁰ But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? ^(VR)Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” ²¹ Does not the ^(VS)potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make ^(VT)one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

²² What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering ^(VU)the vessels of wrath ^(VV)prepared for destruction, ²³ and that He might make known ^(VW)the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had ^(VX)prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ even us whom He ^(VY)called, ^(VZ)not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

²⁵ As He says also in Hosea:

²⁷ Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:

²⁹ And as Isaiah said before:

Present Condition of Israel

³⁰ What shall we say then? ^(WH)That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, ^(WI)even the righteousness of faith; ³¹ but Israel, ^(WJ)pursuing the law of righteousness, ^(WK)has not attained to the law ^[dt]of righteousness. ³² Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, ^[du]by the works of the law. For ^(WL)they stumbled at that stumbling stone. ³³ As it is written:

Israel Needs the Gospel

10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for ^[dv]Israel is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness ^(WO)that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For they being ignorant of ^(WP)God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own ^(WQ)righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. ⁴ For ^(WR)Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, ^(WS)“The man who does those things shall live by them.” ⁶ But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, ^(WT)“Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) ⁷ or, ^(WU)“ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? ^(WV)“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): ⁹ that ^(WW)if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, ^(WX)“Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For ^(WY)there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for ^(WZ)the same Lord over all ^(XA)is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For ^(XB)“whoever calls ^(XC)on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Israel Rejects the Gospel

¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear ^(XD)without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ^(XF)“Lord, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

¹⁸ But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:

¹⁹ But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:

²⁰ But Isaiah is very bold and says:

²¹ But to Israel he says:

Israel’s Rejection Not Total

11 I say then, ^(XL)has God cast away His people? ^(XM)Certainly not! For ^(XN)I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not cast away His people whom ^(XO)He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, ^3 (XP)“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? ⁴ But what does the divine response say to him? ^(XQ)“I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ^5 (XR)Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. ⁶ And ^(XS)if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. ^[dx]But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

⁷ What then? ^(XT)Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were ^(XU)blinded. ⁸ Just as it is written:

⁹ And David says:

Israel’s Rejection Not Final

¹¹ I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But ^(XY)through their ^[dy]fall, to provoke them to ^(XZ)jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. ¹² Now if their ^[dz]fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as ^(YA)I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and ^(YB)save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be ^(YC)but life from the dead?

¹⁶ For if ^(YD)the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷ And if ^(YE)some of the branches were broken off, ^(YF)and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and ^[ea]fatness of the olive tree, ^18 (YG)do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ Well said. Because of ^(YH)unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. ²² Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, ^[eb]goodness, ^(YI)if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise ^(YJ)you also will be cut off. ²³ And they also, ^(YK)if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

²⁵ For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be ^(YL)wise in your own ^[ec]opinion, that ^(YM)blindness in part has happened to Israel ^(YN)until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶ And so all Israel will be ^[ed]saved, as it is written:

²⁸ Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are ^(YQ)beloved for the sake of the fathers. ²⁹ For the gifts and the calling of God are ^(YR)irrevocable. ³⁰ For as you ^(YS)were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, ³¹ even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. ³² For God has ^[ee]committed them ^(YT)all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

³⁶ For ^(YX)of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, ^(YY)to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Living Sacrifices to God

12 I ^(YZ)beseech^[ef] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies ^(ZA)a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your ^[eg]reasonable service. ² And ^(ZB)do not be conformed to this world, but ^(ZC)be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may ^(ZD)prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Serve God with Spiritual Gifts

³ For I say, ^(ZE)through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, ^(ZF)not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt ^(ZG)to each one a measure of faith. ⁴ For ^(ZH)as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so ^(ZI)we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is ^(ZJ)given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us ^(ZK)prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; ^(ZL)he who teaches, in teaching; ^8 (ZM)he who exhorts, in exhortation; ^(ZN)he who gives, with liberality; ^(ZO)he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, ^(ZP)with cheerfulness.

Behave Like a Christian

^9 (ZQ)Let love be without hypocrisy. ^(ZR)Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. ^10 (ZS)Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, ^(ZT)in honor giving preference to one another; ¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ^12 (ZU)rejoicing in hope, ^(ZV)patient^[eh] in tribulation, ^(ZW)continuing steadfastly in prayer; ^13 (ZX)distributing to the needs of the saints, ^(ZY)given^[ei] to hospitality.

^14 (ZZ)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ^15 (AAA)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ^16 (AAB)Be of the same mind toward one another. ^(AAC)Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

^17 (AAD)Repay no one evil for evil. ^(AAE)Have^[ej] regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, ^(AAF)live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, ^(AAG)do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ^(AAH)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but ^(AAJ)overcome evil with good.

Submit to Government

13 Let every soul be ^(AAK)subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ² Therefore whoever resists ^(AAL)the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will ^[ek]bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? ^(AAM)Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. ⁴ For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. ⁵ Therefore ^(AAN)you must be subject, not only because of wrath ^(AAO)but also for conscience’ sake. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. ^7 (AAP)Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Love Your Neighbor^(AAQ)

⁸ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for ^(AAR)he who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹ For the commandments, ^(AAS)“You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” ^[el]“You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ^(AAT)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore ^(AAU)love is the fulfillment of the law.

Put on Christ

¹¹ And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time ^(AAV)to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. ^(AAW)Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and ^(AAX)let us put on the armor of light. ^13 (AAY)Let us walk ^[em]properly, as in the day, ^(AAZ)not in revelry and drunkenness, ^(ABA)not in lewdness and lust, ^(ABB)not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But ^(ABC)put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and ^(ABD)make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

The Law of Liberty

14 Receive^(ABE) one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. ² For one believes he ^(ABF)may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. ³ Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and ^(ABG)let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. ^4 (ABH)Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

^5 (ABI)One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ He who ^(ABJ)observes the day, observes it to the Lord; ^[en]and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for ^(ABK)he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. ⁷ For ^(ABL)none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. ⁸ For if we ^(ABM)live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹ For ^(ABN)to this end Christ died ^[eo]and rose and lived again, that He might be ^(ABO)Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰ But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For ^(ABP)we shall all stand before the judgment seat of ^[ep]Christ. ¹¹ For it is written:

¹² So then ^(ABR)each of us shall give account of himself to God. ¹³ Therefore let us not judge one another ^[eq]anymore, but rather resolve this, ^(ABS)not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

The Law of Love

¹⁴ I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus ^(ABT)that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. ¹⁵ Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. ^(ABU)Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. ^16 (ABV)Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; ^17 (ABW)for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and ^(ABX)peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ For he who serves Christ in ^[er]these things ^(ABY)is acceptable to God and approved by men.

^19 (ABZ)Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which ^(ACA)one may ^[es]edify another. ^20 (ACB)Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. ^(ACC)All things indeed are pure, ^(ACD)but it is evil for the man who eats with ^[et]offense. ²¹ It is good neither to eat ^(ACE)meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles ^[eu]or is offended or is made weak. ^22 [ev]Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. ^(ACF)Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. ²³ But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for ^(ACG)whatever is not from faith is ^[ew]sin.

Bearing Others’ Burdens

15 We ^(ACH)then who are strong ought to bear with the ^[ex]scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ^2 (ACI)Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to ^[ey]edification. ^3 (ACJ)For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ^(ACK)“The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” ⁴ For ^(ACL)whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the ^[ez]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. ^5 (ACM)Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ that you may ^(ACN)with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glorify God Together

⁷ Therefore ^(ACO)receive one another, just ^(ACP)as Christ also received ^[fa]us, to the glory of God. ⁸ Now I say that ^(ACQ)Jesus Christ has become a ^[fb]servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, ^(ACR)to confirm the promises made to the fathers, ⁹ and ^(ACS)that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:

¹⁰ And again he says:

¹¹ And again:

¹² And again, Isaiah says:

¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all ^(ACX)joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

From Jerusalem to Illyricum

¹⁴ Now ^(ACY)I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, ^(ACZ)filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish ^[fc]one another. ¹⁵ Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, ^(ADA)because of the grace given to me by God, ¹⁶ that ^(ADB)I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the ^(ADC)offering ^[fd]of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus ^(ADD)in the things which pertain to God. ¹⁸ For I will not dare to speak of any of those things ^(ADE)which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, ^(ADF)to make the Gentiles obedient— ^19 (ADG)in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. ²⁰ And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, ^(ADH)lest I should build on another man’s foundation, ²¹ but as it is written:

Plan to Visit Rome

²² For this reason ^(ADJ)I also have been much hindered from coming to you. ²³ But now no longer having a place in these parts, and ^(ADK)having a great desire these many years to come to you, ²⁴ whenever I journey to Spain, ^[fe]I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, ^(ADL)and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may ^(ADM)enjoy your company for a while. ²⁵ But now ^(ADN)I am going to Jerusalem to ^[ff]minister to the saints. ²⁶ For ^(ADO)it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. ²⁷ It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For ^(ADP)if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, ^(ADQ)their duty is also to minister to them in material things. ²⁸ Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them ^(ADR)this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. ^29 (ADS)But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing ^[fg]of the gospel of Christ.

³⁰ Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and ^(ADT)through the love of the Spirit, ^(ADU)that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, ^31 (ADV)that I may be delivered from those in Judea who ^[fh]do not believe, and that ^(ADW)my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ^32 (ADX)that I may come to you with joy ^(ADY)by the will of God, and may ^(ADZ)be refreshed together with you. ³³ Now ^(AEA)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Sister Phoebe Commended

16 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in ^(AEB)Cenchrea, ^2 (AEC)that you may receive her in the Lord ^(AED)in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

Greeting Roman Saints

³ Greet ^(AEE)Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴ who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. ⁵ Likewise greet ^(AEF)the church that is in their house.

Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is ^(AEG)the firstfruits of ^[fi]Achaia to Christ. ⁶ Greet Mary, who labored much for us. ⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the ^(AEH)apostles, who also ^(AEI)were in Christ before me.

⁸ Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. ⁹ Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. ¹⁰ Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. ¹¹ Greet Herodion, my ^[fj]countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

¹² Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. ¹³ Greet Rufus, ^(AEJ)chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. ¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. ¹⁵ Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

^16 (AEK)Greet one another with a holy kiss. ^[fk]The churches of Christ greet you.

Avoid Divisive Persons

¹⁷ Now I urge you, brethren, note those ^(AEL)who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and ^(AEM)avoid them. ¹⁸ For those who are such do not serve our Lord ^[fl]Jesus Christ, but ^(AEN)their own belly, and ^(AEO)by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. ¹⁹ For ^(AEP)your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be ^(AEQ)wise in what is good, and ^[fm]simple concerning evil. ²⁰ And ^(AER)the God of peace ^(AES)will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

^(AET)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Greetings from Paul’s Friends

^21 (AEU)Timothy, my fellow worker, and ^(AEV)Lucius, ^(AEW)Jason, and ^(AEX)Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.

²² I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

^23 (AEY)Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. ^(AEZ)Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. ^24 (AFA)The^[fn] grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Benediction

^25 [fo]Now ^(AFB)to Him who is able to establish you ^(AFC)according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, ^(AFD)according to the revelation of the mystery ^(AFE)kept secret since the world began ²⁶ but ^(AFF)now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for ^(AFG)obedience to the faith— ²⁷ to ^(AFH)God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.